For the next edition of the FPCA Mid-Winter Conference and Exposition, MaestroVision will be presenting the latest interview recording technology on January 7th and 8th, 2024.
Brian Kanaczet, police technology specialist, will be at our booth #131 to discuss your interview recording system needs from 5 to 7 pm on January 7th and between 7 am and 3 pm on January 8th, 2024.
If you’re wondering what type of camera to use in your interview room, look no further. In this article, we’ll explain the three main types of cameras that are used for interview recordings.
If you’re wondering what type of camera to use in your interview room, look no further. In this article, we’ll explain the three main types of cameras that are used for interview recordings: IP, USB and HD-SDI. We will compare each of them and provide their pros and cons.
IP stands for Internet Protocol. IP cameras are the most popular on the market. These cameras are designed for surveillance, easy to install and can be located at considerable distances. To install an IP camera, simply connect it to an Ethernet router. There is no need for power since the router will provide it via a technology called PoE (Power over Ethernet). Because of its popularity within the surveillance market, there are a wide variety of IP cameras available, from fixed position to PTZ (Pan, Tilt and Zoom), mounted in dome, bullet or hidden cases. You will find whatever type you require by making a search on Internet.
The IP camera captures the video via a sensor chip and encodes it to an h.264 video streaming format. The video is encapsulated into packets. Connected to the internal Ethernet router, these packets are then accessible by any computer connected to the router (or worldwide if the router is configured accordingly). This allows more than one computer to have access to these packets. The packets are then recognized by a software that decapsulates the video content, generating the video on the computer screen.
There are a variety of IP cameras available. The video generated is already encoded in h.264 allowing manufacturers to develop many applications for it. It is also easy to install and configure.
IP cameras are designed for surveillance that does not require very high quality. They generate video and audio of a poorer quality than other types of cameras. The cause of their poorer quality comes from the way the signal is encoded. The encoding is created from a small chip installed in the camera.
Because of the cost benefit, the algorithm used in IP cameras offers a much lower quality video output.
The audio output of an IP camera is even poorer. The audio connection type in an IP camera is unbalanced. This type of audio connection provides a smaller bandwidth, and the audio cable cannot be longer than 12’. The result is poor audio quality, creating issues such as bad distinction between hearing the letters “S” or “F”. (See more information in section 3.1.)
Most interview recording installations will bypass these audio issues by connecting the audio directly to the recording computer. But because the video is sent in packets and the audio in real time, it is not possible to perfectly synchronize the two together. The result creates a situation where the lips are not synching with the voice during playback. See Figure 3.
Because this technology connects to the internal Ethernet router, if there is a breakdown on the network, all the interview rooms will be out of service.
Finally, because IP cameras are network connected, they are more vulnerable to external hacking.
USB cameras are becoming more popular. Like IP cameras, there is a wide choice available from fixed, PTZ, dome, bullet, hidden and more. This type of camera is designed to connect directly to your computer via a USB port. It is widely used for teleconferencing, classroom recording or other applications such as FaceTime or Skype.
USB cameras are widely available. The quality of the video is acceptable for interview recording. The limitation of the 15’ cable is overcome by using a USB extension module, which will provide up to 330’ between the camera and the computer. Because USB technology utilizes the real time transmission of video, it is possible to connect the audio directly to the computer and get full synchronization between video and audio. This type of camera can be used for either fixed or portable interview recording technology.
The weakness of USB cameras comes from the fact that the encoding occurs in the computer. This means greater utilization of the CPU. Depending on the computer, the number of simultaneous recordings can be limited to six. The USB technology happens to be less stable than the HD-SDI technology. A disconnection and reconnection of the USB cable is required to stop and subsequently restart the recording application.
HD-SDI stands for High-Definition – Serial Digital Interface. This technology was developed and still being used by television stations today. The SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers) created this format for the highest possible quality of video and audio required by broadcasters. This technology provides a stunning result when encoded in h.264 format. To obtain such an outcome, the video is encoded using hardware encoders installed in the computer. The hardware encoder uses the foremost algorithm to provide the highest quality output that is ideal for law enforcement purposes. Because fewer applications exist outside of the broadcast industry, the range of HD-SDI cameras are more limited. There is a choice between fixed bullet, fixed dome, and PTZ (Pan, Tilt and Zoom) dome. Therefore, during interview recording where hidden cameras are not required, these options are more than suitable.
This is the best technology for interview recording. HD-SDI technology provides the highest audio and video quality and offers excellent stability. There is perfect synchronization between audio and video. HD-SDI technology can record monitor screens. The connection of the audio is balanced audio that provides the highest bandwidth and the clearest sound quality.
Because of the hardware encoder card, this solution is more expensive and the varieties of cameras available are limited.
The choice of lenses is important. We sometimes consider the quality of a lens by its capacity to zoom, but this is not so in an Interview Room application. Specific to interview rooms, the wide-angle capacity of the lens is more important than how close it can zoom onto an object. Subsequently, there is no requirement to zoom on an object that is only 1” in size.
It is important that within the interview room there is one camera that covers the whole space. This is to ensure that the subject cannot claim to be threatened by an officer, whilst outside the field of view of the camera.
It is also useful to have another camera that can zoom closer on the subject, and have the ability to record body language, facial expression and reactions.
Finally, if it could be a benefit to be able to record smaller objects such as a phone or documents.
When looking at camera specifications, it is useful to examine the optical zoom capability of the camera. This specification will determine how close it can get to an object and its width of the coverage.
There are many parameters to consider in determining the angle that the camera will cover. A rule of thumb is to multiply the distance to the object in meters by 4.8, then divide by the width yourequire. The result will provide the focal lens parameter needed in mm.
Example:
The room measures 3 meters by 3 meters.
In order to record the whole space, you will need a lens that covers 90 degrees, if it’s installed on a corner. The focal lens calculation shows a horizontal coverage of 4.24 meters, at a distance of 2.12 meters from the camera.
By using this formula in Figure 10, a lens with a focal distance of less than 2.4 mm is required. The less the focal lens, the wider the coverage.
As previously discussed, it is also important to have a second camera that can zoom closer in on the subject.
In the 3 meters by 3 meters interview room, to capture both the interviewee and the interviewer, will require a camera that has a focal lens of7.2mm. See Figure 11.
Finally, for recording smaller objects such as a smart phone, a camera that has a focal lens of 96 mm is required. See Figure 13.
To record the interviewee’s facial reactions, a camera lens with a focal distance of 14.4 mm is required. See Figure 12.
To summarize, in an interview room, obtaining two cameras is the minimum requirement. One fixed with a focal lens of 2.4 mm installed in the corner of the room, and another on the wall that has a 20X focal lens varying between 4mm and 120mm.
Finding cameras with these exact specifications can be difficult, but one can get close enough. For example, for the corner camera, one with a focal lens of 2.8 mm will work. It is not ideal, but it will suffice.
Have further questions? Email us at info@maestrovision.com and we’ll help you choose the best cameras and lenses for your interview room.
Presenting Tech Tip Tuesday! Where broadcast experts answer your commonly asked A/V questions!
Do you have an A/V question you’d like us to answer? Send it to info@maestrovision.com and it just might be featured in a future video!
Question
What are Authentication and Audit Trails?
Answer
Authentication verifies user credentials, like passwords, smart cards, or biometrics to grant authorized access while employing safeguards against unauthorized access to ensure security and data integrity.
An audit trail, or log, keeps chronological records of system activities, documenting user actions, data changes, and access attempts.
The primary purposes for authentication and audit trails are the following:
Authentication: Identity Verification
Ensures that users are who they claim to be, which supports the prevention of unauthorized access and protects sensitive information.
Authentication: Access Control and Security
Safeguards data, systems, and resources from unauthorized access and security breaches by confirming user identity, which ensures proper access levels within a system.
Audit Trail: Accountability
Provides a means of attributing actions and activities to specific individuals, which increases accountability for their actions within an information system.
Audit Trail: Compliance and Governance
Helps organizations demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements, industry standards, and internal policies by providing a record of activities and events.
Audit Trail: Problem Solving and Forensic Analysis
Assists with identifying issues, understanding the cause of events, and resolving problems. They’re crucial for forensic analysis which allows for better investigation of security incidents and detection of potential vulnerabilities.
Audit Trail: Monitoring and Detection
Allows organizations to monitor their systems to detect and respond to suspicious activities, anomalies, or policy violations in a timely manner.
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Being a company with over 20 years of experience building interview room systems and consulting for tons of police departments, we’ve gained a lot of valuable knowledge on the steps police departments should take when considering an interview room system.
We want to help you! No matter what system you end up with, you should feel empowered to make the correct choice. You don’t need a degree from MIT in order to have an understanding of the technology that can help (or hurt) the quality of your interview recordings.
Here are some tips we’ve compiled for you to make an informed decision on the best interview recording system for your police department.
The majority of interview recording systems on the market today are compatible with IP cameras. However, this has proven to cause issues with audio clarity and synchronization with the video. It’s important to have an acute awareness of your options so you know what to anticipate once you choose your preferred cameras.
We recommend you send the following information to the vendor you’re considering:
For example:
We can’t stress this enough. You want a system with a long-span or lifetime warranty. The day after the warranty is expired, you are in charge of fixing hardware and software issues. Most police departments end up having to complete the search for a new system all over again or put up with an outdated system with broken parts until they have the budget for a new one. Don’t let your police department end up in this predicament.
Do you have an IT manager? Would you prefer the vendor install the system themselves? You may be saving costs by having an internal employee install the system but, if issues should arise, you should ensure you have a plan for remote assistance from the vendor.
It should be easy to use and all of your coworkers should feel comfortable and satisfied with it once they try it.
Don’t forget to invest in a backup battery! If power issues should arise, you don’t want your entire system to be down and lose crucial recordings. Make sure you factor this into your quote request. In addition, it may be smart to invest in several computers to operate the software and media library. Relying on one device may cause a system overload and should the computer experience technical issues or shut down, all of your interview room systems will be impacted.
Cloud storage gets a bad wrap for being “less secure”, however, this isn’t so. There’s no right or wrong way to handle your storage, it’s about the needs of your department.
So you’ve gotten all of your quotes sitting out in front of you and your favorite vendor’s quote is higher than your budget! What do you do? Our recommendation: don’t settle for less. Go back to your preferred vendor and let them know what’s out of your budget. They just may be able to work with you on getting you your dream system for a lower cost.
Seems like a lot, huh? We know! That’s why our CEO, Claude Turcotte used his audio/visual and broadcasting experience to write a guide that includes all of the information you need to know in order to make an informed decision for your police department.
Read More MaestroVision’s Tech Tip Tuesday! Where broadcast experts answer your commonly asked A/V questions!
If you have an A/V question you’d like us to answer, send it to info@maestrovision.com and it might be answered in a future video!
QUESTION: How can I remove ventilation system noise from recordings?
ANSWER: Unfortunately, there is no magic solution once it’s already recorded… Noise attenuation needs to be considered at the time of recording. Ventilation system noise is mostly composed of specific frequencies. The trick is to use an audio equalizer to attenuate the frequencies derived from the ventilation system.
Step 1: Make sure the ventilation system is turned on in the interview room
Step 2: Put your headphones on
Step 3: Increase your recording system’s volume to the maximum
Step 4: Adjust the frequency bands starting with the lowest band until you achieve maximum attenuation of the ventilation system sounds
There is no standard solution. Simply adjust the different frequency bands until you achieve maximum noise attenuation in the interview room.
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A quick Google search will make it evident that there are numerous simulation recording options available on the market today. How do you know which system is best suited for you? We created a step-by-step guide to assist you through the process of finding the perfect solution for your university or medical institution.
Before you begin researching solutions, the first thing you want to do is create drawings of the layouts of all the rooms you’d like to record. It’s important for your provider to understand the concept of each room (i.e. – where manikins and monitoring equipment will be placed) so they know the placement and number of cameras necessary to capture the simulation scenarios in each room. It’s also important to determine where you’d like your control room to be placed. The control room houses the recording computer and necessary hardware. This room can be used to monitor and replay simulation recordings. Where is the control room located in proximity to the simulation recording rooms?
Here are some aspects to consider when developing this document:
According to Healthy Simulation, “A low-fidelity manikin is a segmented clinical task trainer capable of a small number of specific tasks or procedures, such as an IV arm or a CPR manikin. This can be helpful for healthcare learners who are looking to master a specific task or skill.
A mid-fidelity manikin is usually a full-body simulated patient; however, it may have minimal computer components. A high-fidelity manikin, like the SimMan, incorporates the latest in computer hardware technology. High-fidelity manikins are commonly wireless and can be programmed to provide for a very realistic full-body patient presentation.”
Once you’ve outlined the basics of your needs, the next step is determining which use-cases and features you’d like applied in your system. A more complex solution with tons of features and addons may take a longer adoption rate for students and professors than a standard record, assess, and debrief solution.
Important note about training:
If you’re considering a solution that ties in with your LMS, it may be important to ask the provider if training is hosted online (via instructional videos) or if it’s the professor/educator’s job to train their students on using the system.
So, you have identified the basics of your simulation recording needs, now it’s time to get specific about the features that will best serve you and your students….
These criteria should help you determine your specific needs before or after you conduct demonstrations with simulation recording providers.
We hope this article helps you in determining the specifics of your simulation recording needs (no matter what vendor you choose). For more information about MaestroVision’s simulation recording solutions, please visit https://maestrovision.com/simulation-rooms/.
There’s no doubt that large police departments and those who conduct hundreds of interviews a year can’t rely on their local hard drive to store, manage and share interview recordings and other proprietary files securely and efficiently. Thus, the evidence management system comes into play. When looking for the perfect system for your police department, the options are endless. A few questions to consider are the following:
In this article, we will address these questions and point out some of the benefits for law enforcement entities using our Evidence Management System.
Don’t get ripped off by paying for each gigabyte of storage you’re using in your evidence management system. You will have absorbent expenses and never feel like you have enough space for all of your documents. MaestroVision’s Evidence Management software offers unlimited storage and users for one affordable fee.
Metadata information is used for classifying all media. It consists of information such as the date and time, the type of media, who recorded it, the location, the names of people involved and so on. The objective of metadata is to easily retrieve information. For example, trying to locate an interview, which occurred in San Diego between 2018 and 2019, concerning a murder that involved Bob Smith. Only if all the metadata information was entered correctly will the retrieval be successful.
The metadata fields in our media library can be configured to your specific needs. For example, if you want each of your interview recordings to contain keywords denoting different aspects that are indexed and searchable in the library, you can. Here are some examples of common metadata fields:
It is important to create different user configurations that control access. For example, group A only has access to content A, but not access to group B’s content; or limiting some user types to just having read- only access. With our evidence management system, configuration types can be unlimited, are very secure and can be connected to the active directory for ease of access.
Content from within the system can be shared to different users depending on your permissions.
Our evidence management system allows for ad-hoc reporting. It is important to have access to reports detailing the database utilization. The evidence management system holds sensitive information that needs to be controlled. Reports can include information about who accessed the database, timestamps of when information was viewed, what videos were downloaded and more.
Our media library is compatible with all media files regardless of where they have originated. The media can be audio or video from interview recordings, surveillance cameras, smart phones, videotapes, bodycams, broadcasts and more. When specifically dealing with surveillance cameras, their file formats are often proprietary and cannot play with just any computer software.
Our video library system can manage two types of files, the original and the proxy. A proxy is a copy of the original in a particular file format, ideally h.264. The idea of the proxy is to have one common file type for monitoring and research purposes. Before a judge, the original file needs to be presented, but when conducting an investigation, avoiding time searching for video evidence is useful.
In addition, users can upload any types of files pertinent to their department or a case (PDF, DOC, PNG, JPEG, MP3 and more).
Adding bookmarks during the interview can be a challenge for any law enforcement officer looking for clues to a case and trying to be 100% present to the interviewee. That’s why our evidence management system gives users the ability to add bookmarks post-interview. Also, recordings can be trimmed and exported to a DVD, USB or saved to a hard drive directly from the application.
We can install an on-premises video library as an application at your location or we can install a cloud-based system in our data center. The choice is yours. For more details on the pros and cons of on-premise versus cloud-based storage, please download our free guide on how to build or upgrade your interview room.
Our system employs many security features such as: prevention of multiple active login sessions; access control based on each user’s privileges; protection in case of multiple invalid login attempts; automatic logout of inactive users after 30 minutes; enforcement of minimum password complexity; and using an encrypted secured connection to access the system. Any additional features you’d like can be implemented.
Introducing Tech Tip Tuesdays! Where broadcast experts answer your commonly asked A/V questions!
Do you have an A/V question you’d like us to answer? Send it to info@maestrovision.com and it just might be featured in a future video!
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